Machine for reciprocating and rotating churn dashers



Nov. 18, 1947.

o. 1;. NICHOLS MACHINE FOR RECIPROCATING AND ROTATiNG CHURN DASHERS Filed March 1, 1944 Patented Nov. 18, 1947 MACHINE FOR RECIPROCATING AND ROTATING CHURN DASHERS Okey E. Nichols,.Charleston, W. Va., assignor 'to Marvin R. Wallace and W. G. Triplett, jointly Application March 1, 1944, Serial No. 524,554

This invention relates to a machine for recip rocating and rotating a churn dasher.

In inventing a machine of this kind, there were several difficult problems to be solved, one being to operatively connect the churn-dasher to an oscillating lever in such relation that the dasher-shaft is kept in a vertical position while the lever is in various inclined positions on its fulcrum during each cycle of movement of the lever-actuating mechanism; and a second problem being to provide a practical, comparatively noiseless and effective means for rotating the dasher simultaneously with its reciprocation, such means comprising a belt and automatic belttightening means to compensate for tendencies to slacken the belt each time the dasher is raised from its lower position to its higher position,

Though the main object of the invention is to provide a thoroughly practical, noiseless and effective machine for simultaneouslyrotating and reciprocating the churn-dasher, other objects are to overcome the above-mentioned problems while also overcoming the problem of correctly training and guiding the dasher-rotating belt with respect to the sheave on the dasher and the sheave or pulley on the power-transmission element or rotor that includes the crank-shaft.

Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in the following, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which, I

7 Claims. (Cl. '74-22) Fig. l is a side elevation of a churning machine constructed according to one embodiment of my invention, a part of one of the pulleys or sheaves being broken away, and the upper part of the churn-receptacle and its cover being in section across its center.

Fig. 2 is a top plan'view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, a part of one pulley being shown in section and another part shown in dotted lines, and a part of another pulley being broken away to disclose the sectional part of the sub-jacent pulley.

Fig. 3 is a semi-perspective view of one of the lever-supportin or fulcrum-supporting brackets that are less clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a semi-perspective view of one of the two brackets on which the belt-guiding sheaves are journaled.

Referringto these drawings in detail, includin reference numerals that correspond to reference numerals in the following details of description,

the invention is described in detail as follows:

A receptacle 5, for containing cream or other liquid to be churned, is provided with a remove able cover 5 that has a central opening 6a thru which normally extends a dasher-shaft I, The receptacle 5 is normally seated on a floor 8 which, for purposes of individuals or families, is preferably portable, so it and the other elements of the invention constitute a portable unitary structure that needs norebuilding or revising when the owner or user desires to put it to operation. A motor 9 of any appropriate kind or type, is also preferably seated on and secured to the platform or floor 8; and bearings H] are preferably secured to the floor by means of bearing-brackets l I (Fig. 1) one of which is obscured by the other one in Fig. 1, both being obscured by a super-structure or open frame l2 in Fig. -2. A shaft 13 is journaled in the bearings l0 and has pulleys or sheaves l4 and 15 secured thereon for rotation therewith. A belt 16 operatively connects the pulley H! with a pulley 9a of the motor 9. A belt ll operatively connects the pulley I5 with a pulley l8 which is an element of a power-trans-- mission mechanism or unit presently described.

Said power-transmission unit includes a crankshaft 19 on which the pulley l8 and a pulley 20 are secured. This crank-shaft is journalled in bearings 21, secured in hangers 22 which are secured to the frame or superstructure l2 by bolts 23 or other appropriate means. A belt 2 l operatively connects the pulley 20 with a pulley or sheave 25 which is adjustably secured on the dasher-shaft l by a set-screw 26 or other appropriate means to secure said sheave 25 in various adjustments on said dasher-shaft I so as to alternatively raise and lower the location of the dashers churning operation in said receptacle 5.

A pitman-rod 2'! has its lower end journaled on the crank l9a of the crank-shaft while its upper end is pivotally connected at 28 to a lever 29 of the walking beam type, which lever may be conveniently and economically formed of two flat bars that are united by the pivot 28, fulcrum 30 and pivot-bolt 3|. The fulcrum or bolt 30 is removably secured in axially aligned screw-holes of a pair of fulcrum-supporting brackets 32 and. 33, the only difference between these being that the bracket 33 preferably has its screw-holes internally threaded while the holes 32a are not threaded; so, for changing the throw of the dasher-connected end of the lever 29, the fulcrum 3t can be interchanged from one pair to another pair of its seats in the fulcrum-supports 32 and 33 quickly and easily. These brackets 32 and 33 can be secured on the superstructure [2 by any appropriate means, for instance. by bolts 34 which a so fiecure the brackets 35 in place, via, in proper,

- sheave against accidental displacement, but is removable to permit such sheave to be removed when necessary or desirable for permitting the fulcrum 3|! to be taken from one pair of boltholes (in the brackets 32 and 33) and placed in any other pair of such bolt-holes. Inasmuch as the lever 29 has pairs of bolt-holes corresponding to those of the brackets 32 and 33, the mean or normal position of the lever is not changed when changing the position of the fulcrum from one set of bolt-holes to another set.

Bearings 31 are provided for the dasher-shaft 1, and each of these bearings is provided with pivot-studs 38 the upper ones of which are journaled in apertures of the lever 29; the lower bear-, ings studs 38 being journaled in apertured end-. portions of a pair of links 39 Whose opposite end portions are multi-apertured to correspond to the apertures 3212 (Figs. 1 and 3), and a'fulcrum 40 (like or similar to the pivot and shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1), is interchangeablesame as described for pivot or fulcrum 30. A pair of link 4| is pivotally connected to the lever 29 and to the links 39 by means of the pivot-bolt 3i and a similar pivot-bolt 42; and this linkage 39-4! cooperates with its adjuncts in holding the bearings 31 respectively against the upper and lower sides of the sheave 25, viz., against the upper and lower bosses of this sheave 25, so, as the lever 29 is oscillated, the upper bearing 31 cooperates with the sheave 25 and set-screw 26 for pushing the dasher downward, and the lower bearing 31 cooperates with the sheave 25 and set-screw 26. for pushing the dasher upward. Moreover, this linkage retains the dasher in its vertical position when in its lowermost, uppermost and all intermediate positions. However, because of the lateral movements of the dasher, resulting from arcuate movements of the bearings 31, it is desirable to have the opening 6a preferably in the form of a slot that is long enough to provide ample clearance for such lateral movement.

Moreover, the'arcuate movement of these bearings results in an arcuate movement of the sheave 25, toward and from the receptacle 5, each upward movement from the mean position (shown) tending to slacken the belt 24, and each downward movement from said mean position tending to unduly tighten this belt; so, spring-pressed means are provided to counteract these tendencies and to provide approximately uniform tension of the belt 25, also to cooperate with the idler-sheaves 36 in properly guiding the belt into the groove of the sheave 25 and preventing un-. due chafing of the belt against the flanges of the pulley 29. Such spring-pressed means comprise two guiding sheaves 43 and 44, pivotally connected respectively to links 45 and 46 which are'provided respectively with spring 47 and 48. These springs are retractile and are secured to opposite sides of the superstructure l2, so, while these specific details of construction and/or arrangement, for the invention is susceptible of numerous changes within the scope of the inventive ideas, as implied and claimed. For example, it is quite within the scope of this invention to eliminate the intermediary power transmission unit l3|4l5 and belt l1, and change the position of the motor 9 so that its belt 16 will operatively engage with the pulley l8; or to have the motor-shaft alined with and directly connected to the shaft 2|; also, an eccentric and connecting rod could be substituted for the crank I91; and pitman-rod 21 without departure from the inventive ideas expressed and implied herein.

I claim thefollowing as my invention:

1. In a machine for operating a churn-dasher, the combination of a shaft adapted to be secured to said churn-dasher, a sheave having an axial bore into which said shaft extends, means to secure said sheave in fixed position relative to said shaft, and means operatively engaged with said sheave to effect both rotary and reciprocatory movements of said sheave and shaft.

2. In the combination defined by claim 1, the

first-said means being movable for releasing said shaft so the latter can be adjusted-vertically with respect to said sheave.

3. In the combination defined by claim 1, the

last-said means comprising the following ele-v ments, viz., bearingson said shaft respectively against the upper and lower sides of said sheave,

a lever mounted for oscillatory movement on its fulcrum and being pivotally connected to one of said bearings, a link pivotally mounted in parallel relation to said lever and being pivotally con-, nected to the other one of said bearings, and. a link pivotally connected to said leverand to the first said link in a proper relation to cooperate in holding said bearings respectively against the upper and lower sides of said sheave while the first said link 'reciproca'tes in unison with said,

lever.

4. In the combination defined by claim 1, the last-said'means comprising the following ele-' ments, viz., bearings on said shaft, a supporting structure including upper and lower pivots, a lever mounted for oscillatory movement on one of said pivots and bein pivotally connected to one of said bearings, a link having an end portion engaged with one of said pivots and its other'end portion pivotally connected to the other one of said bearings, a link having one end-portion pivthey pull different parts of the belt 24 in opposite directions, theycounteract one another so as to avoid moving the belt too far laterally in either direction.

otedto said lever and its other end-portion piv-.

oted to the first-said link in a proper relation to cooperate in holding said bearings respectively against the upper and lower sides of said sheave,

a power-transmission element operatively con nected to said lever to effect oscillatory movement 7 of the lever, and a power-transmission element cooperatively connected to the first-said powertransmission element and to said sheave in a proper relation to rotate the latter and thereby rotate the shaft while the oscillatory movement of said lever and links effect reciprocatory movements of said shaft. 7 g

5. The combination defined by claim 1, the lastsaid means comprising a link and lever mecha:

nism operatively engaged with said sheave, a ful- 7 crum-supportin means, and fulcrums normally in positions for supporting said link and lever mechanism in anoperative relation for imparting' a predetermined throw to said shaft, said fulcrum-supporting means being of proper con-' structiQn to receive said fulcrurns in various oper- 5 ative or effective psoitions for varying the throw of the shaft while maintaining the shaft in an unvarying path of reciprocation.

6. In a machine for operating a churn-dasher, an upright shaft whose lower end is adapted to be operatively connected to said churn-dasher, in combination with a unitary structure that comprises a floor and a superstructure which latter is united with said floor and includes journalbearings and a fulcrum support, a sheave secured in fixed position relative to said shaft, a lever having its fulcrum on said fulcrum-support, poWer-transmission-means journaled in said journal-bearings and operatively connected to said lever for causing the lever to oscillate, means cooperatively engaged with said lever and sheave for reciprocating said shaft upward and downward, and means operatively engaged with said power-transmission-means and said sheave for rotating the sheave and shaft-while the latter is being reciprocated.

7. The combination defined by claim 6, and means to secure said sheave in various adjustments on said shaft for the purpose specified.

OKEY E. NICHOLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 100,753 Hall et al Mar. 15, 1870 215,090 Bridewell May 6, 1879 463,973 Palmer Nov. 24, 1891 575,581 Wright et a1 Jan. 19, 1897 1,117,455 Simpson Nov. 17, 1914 1,712,144 Hackett May 7, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS 20 Number Country Date 458,079 Germany Mar. 29, 1928 

